If you are at the Kutztown Folk Festival and hear knees being slapped and feet being stomped there is a good chance Lester Miller is nearby. That is because Miller, 75, has been calling the always popular hoedowns at the festival almost continuously for about 45 years. The 30 or so dancers that perform in the hoedown demonstrations represent four generations of Miller's family. They range in age from 5 years old to fortysomething. Only two of the dancers are not related to Miller and they are dating his grandsons; one of them will marry into the Miller family in July.

The task in front of Eric Perez couldn't have been simpler: match or at least challenge your family members' exploits, and the rest will take care of itself. Like older brother Nando, Eric won three District 11 singles titles in tennis for Southern Lehigh High School. Like his older sister Michelle (two district singles titles, one doubles) and Nando, he positioned himself to make a run at a state title. Nando nabbed a fourth place in singles. Michelle won a doubles state title.

Eric Perez played "Oreo" tennis Monday in the District 11 AAA singles championship at Westend Racquet and Fitness Club: hard on both ends with a soft middle. The Southern Lehigh sophomore opened up against top-seeded Akshay Damany of Emmaus playing hard, precise tennis, taking a 6-0 first set against the only player to beat him this spring. Perez's coach, Andraea Drabenstott said of the start, "That was one of the best sets I've ever witnessed, and I've had a lot of good players in my time."

Our family has a traditional open house party for family, friends and neighbors with plenty of food, drinks and good old-fashioned fun. One of my nephews has perfected his grandmother's recipe for apple strudel, and we all can't wait to get our piece; it's delicious. We older members of the family love to tell stories of Christmases past and all the funny things that went on way back then. We sing old Austrian drinking songs and toasts, which our parents taught us when we were children.

Barry Hodge (left) adjusts a light high above Phillipsburg's Maloney Stadium. Barry does the job with his dad Kenneth (above) -making maintenance on the light fixtures something of a Hodge family tradition. Barry's grandfather once handled the duties.

The task in front of Eric Perez couldn't have been simpler: match or at least challenge your family members' exploits, and the rest will take care of itself. Like older brother Nando, Eric won three District 11 singles titles in tennis for Southern Lehigh High School. Like his older sister Michelle (two district singles titles, one doubles) and Nando, he positioned himself to make a run at a state title. Nando nabbed a fourth place in singles. Michelle won a doubles state title.

Firefighter Gary R. Weaver of Egypt carries a family tradition that ties in with his being named Whitehall Township Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Weaver, 34, of 4706 Main St., a driver-firefighter at station four in Egypt, received the award recently from Whitehall Fire Chief Robert L. Benner and Whitehall Exchange Club President Gerald Fabian at the firemen's ball at 9 Oaks, Coplay. Weaver's grandfather, George Weaver of Egypt, is a charter member of Egypt Fire Co. His grandmother, Erma Weaver, is a member of the ladies auxiliary.

My wife and I have enjoyed the Allentown Fair for the last 14 years. Without a doubt, the big draw for us is seeing the Bobby Mercer Road Show. We visit many local venues for concerts throughout the year including Mayfair, Musikfest and the State Theatre and hear some great acts. In our opinion, however, nothing comes close to the experience of attending the Bobby Mercer Road Show at the Allentown Fair. Their musical talents, zany antics and audience interaction make the show an experience to relish.

A Bethlehem Christmas tradition returned to the city this holiday season when candle makers Robert and Lucille Smith opened shop at Central Moravian Church. The couple make beeswax candles and share their expertise through demonstrations and history lessons in the conference room at the church. To the Smiths, who have been transforming beeswax into shaped candles for almost 40 years, the craft is a reminder of the earliest holiday celebrations in the city and a family tradition.

Writing informative guides is becoming a tradition among members of the Stehlin family. Allentown native John Stehlin Jr., now living in Virginia, recently had his guide titled "Intelligent Job Hunting" published by Log Cabin Publishers of Allentown. Last year, his brother, award-winning coach and former professional football player Jim Stehlin, authored "The College Bound Athlete's Guide - Making it Happen in College," also for Log Cabin Publishers. He resides in Massachusetts.

TODAY'S QUESTION: What is your favorite family tradition during this holiday season? Simple joys are best At the heart of my favorite family tradition is the simple idea of spending time with people we love. Looking back on my childhood, sharing a meal, visiting relatives, and making time for neighbors are what I remember the most. When my children were growing up, those things continued to be the heart of our holiday. Christmas can become complicated when marriage and grandchildren fill our lives.

By Marion Callahan, Scott Kraus and Tyrone Richardson, Of The Morning Call | November 25, 2011

Her flannel pajamas were on, her eyes were narrowing to slits and Toni Villanueva was beginning to lean. Resting against a shelf of DVD players at Target at 11:20 a.m., the 32-year-old Allentown resident was into the final stretch of a nearly 16-hour shopping saga that began at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Her treasured purchase, a Samsung 51-inch television that was discounted from $700 to $498, cost a night's sleep and a four-hour wait in a Walmart line. But this year's staggered sales schedule came with some welcomed perks.

Prompt as always, the Sure-Fit workers began emerging from a side door of the plant at 3:15 p.m. Friday. All but Joanne Miller. On today of all days, she had left her purse behind. "She'll be late to her own funeral," one of her colleagues said, as everyone huddled against the suddenly stiff wind and waited for Miller to come out of the Upper Macungie Township plant and see her surprise: a wedding-white limousine, hired by her husband, Terry, to take her home to Lowhill Township on her last day after 45 years.

Ed Williams was raised on a Midwestern farm with a hunting rifle in one hand and fishing pole in the other. The closest he ever got to wearing feathers was when he was plucking a kill and the closest he got to playing scales was cleaning the one that didn't get away. That background makes Williams, 77, who has lived in Allentown since 1971, one of the most unlikely people to strut his stuff with a banjo in Philadelphia's New Year's Day Mummers Parade. But he's been doing it now for four decades, and that makes him the oldest musician marching this year with the Aqua String Band.

When people ask me, "Are you ready for the holidays?" I always laugh. That's because I hardly make an effort when the holidays roll around. I don't bake fancy cookies. I don't decorate our home all that much. And I don't spend much, if any, time at the mall. I used to feel somewhat guilty about this until I met Tsh Oxenreider, author of newly-released book "Organized Simplicity. " Her book is amazing. It's full of useful advice for simplifying everything in your life, even your pantry.

If you are at the Kutztown Folk Festival and hear knees being slapped and feet being stomped there is a good chance Lester Miller is nearby. That is because Miller, 75, has been calling the always popular hoedowns at the festival almost continuously for about 45 years. The 30 or so dancers that perform in the hoedown demonstrations represent four generations of Miller's family. They range in age from 5 years old to fortysomething. Only two of the dancers are not related to Miller and they are dating his grandsons; one of them will marry into the Miller family in July.

Not all kids who are selected jump at the chance to play in the McDonald's Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic. After all, summer's just begun and it's quite tempting to celebrate your high school graduation with a Senior Week trip to the shore or in some faraway paradise, rather than go through the grind of a football game. But for Whitehall's Cory Cesare, there was no hesitation when he was chosen. Playing in the all-star event has been a Cesare family tradition that began with his father, Mark, playing in the very first game in 1971 when it was known as the LARC game.

Eric Perez played "Oreo" tennis Monday in the District 11 AAA singles championship at Westend Racquet and Fitness Club: hard on both ends with a soft middle. The Southern Lehigh sophomore opened up against top-seeded Akshay Damany of Emmaus playing hard, precise tennis, taking a 6-0 first set against the only player to beat him this spring. Perez's coach, Andraea Drabenstott said of the start, "That was one of the best sets I've ever witnessed, and I've had a lot of good players in my time."